Agenda item

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It was moved by Councillor Halsall, seconded by Councillor Evans:

In-Depth Neurodiversity Training for Staff and Contractors Working With Children In Care

This Council recognises the critical importance of understanding and supporting neurodiverse children in our care. We believe that a thorough foundation in neurodiversity awareness will enable our staff and contracted service providers to better meet the unique needs of each child, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment.

To this end, the Council commits to ensuring that all directly employed staff and contracted individuals who work with or interact with children in our care undertake in-depth neurodiversity training. This training must be delivered in person by qualified professionals with expertise in neurodiversity, ensuring a comprehensive, interactive learning experience. We further commit to involving neurodiverse individuals who have left care, as well as parents of neurodiverse children, in guiding and shaping the training content to ensure it reflects real-life experiences and needs.

Sefton Council will:

·       Ensure that all directly employed staff and contracted personnel who work with children in care complete neurodiversity training.

·       Require that the training is delivered in person by qualified neurodiversity professionals, ensuring an in-depth and interactive experience.

·       Involve neurodiverse individuals who have left care and parents of neurodiverse children in the development of training content to reflect lived experiences and practical insights.

·       Include practical strategies and skills in the training for understanding and supporting neurodiverse children in care.

·       Conduct an annual review and update of training programs to reflect current best practices, research, and feedback from neurodiverse individuals and families.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Roscoe, seconded by Councillor Dowd that the Motion be revised as follows:

In-Depth Neurodiversity Training for Staff and Contractors Working With Children In Care

This Council recognises the critical importance of understanding and supporting neurodiverse children in our care.

We believe that a thorough foundation in neurodiversity awareness will enable our staff and contracted service providers to better meet the unique needs of each child, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment and recognise the requirement for different levels of training ranging from those who work intensively in this field to those who work anywhere in the council. In addition, every child or young person who enters care undergoes a thorough health assessment, including the identification and/or recognition of any neurodiverse needs.

To this end, the Council continues to commit to ensuring that all directly employed staff and contracted individuals who work with or interact with children in our care undertake the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism which is the government’s preferred and recommended training for health and social care staff.

Further, this Council commits to the delivery of a package of training that is currently being developed and co-produced with our partners in the Sefton Safeguarding Children Partnership, including Health, the Virtual School, Sefton Parent Carers Forum and Education Excellence, aimed at neurodiversity awareness to all those across the Multi Agency Safeguarding Partnership to support and strengthen confidence when carrying out their safeguarding responsibilities whilst considering the unique needs and vulnerabilities of each child.

This Council also commits to continue to support all our schools, families and young people to develop inclusive spaces and foster understanding for all neurodiverse people.

Sefton Council will:

·       Continue to ensure that all directly employed staff and contracted personnel who work with children in care complete our mandatory neurodiversity training.

·       Continue to co-produce training with a range of agencies and neurodiverse individuals who have left care and parents of neurodiverse children in the development of training content to reflect lived experiences and practical insights.

·       Agree the Implementation of the SSCP package of training that is currently being developed aimed at neurodiversity awareness for all our partners when working with children, young people and families with regards to safeguarding.

·       Ensure that as in all SSCP learning opportunities, we ensure the package of training is rigorously reviewed and quality assured.

Following a debate on the amendment the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote and the Mayor declared that the amendment was carried unanimously.

Thereafter, the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer officiated a vote on the Substantive Motion and the Mayor declared that the Substantive Motion was carried unanimously and it was

RESOLVED:

In-Depth Neurodiversity Training for Staff and Contractors Working With Children In Care

This Council recognises the critical importance of understanding and supporting neurodiverse children in our care.

We believe that a thorough foundation in neurodiversity awareness will enable our staff and contracted service providers to better meet the unique needs of each child, fostering a supportive and inclusive environment and recognise the requirement for different levels of training ranging from those who work intensively in this field to those who work anywhere in the council. In addition, every child or young person who enters care undergoes a thorough health assessment, including the identification and/or recognition of any neurodiverse needs.

To this end, the Council continues to commit to ensuring that all directly employed staff and contracted individuals who work with or interact with children in our care undertake the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism which is the government’s preferred and recommended training for health and social care staff.

Further, this Council commits to the delivery of a package of training that is currently being developed and co-produced with our partners in the Sefton Safeguarding Children Partnership, including Health, the Virtual School, Sefton Parent Carers Forum and Education Excellence, aimed at neurodiversity awareness to all those across the Multi Agency Safeguarding Partnership to support and strengthen confidence when carrying out their safeguarding responsibilities whilst considering the unique needs and vulnerabilities of each child.

This Council also commits to continue to support all our schools, families and young people to develop inclusive spaces and foster understanding for all neurodiverse people.

Sefton Council will:

·       Continue to ensure that all directly employed staff and contracted personnel who work with children in care complete our mandatory neurodiversity training.

·       Continue to co-produce training with a range of agencies and neurodiverse individuals who have left care and parents of neurodiverse children in the development of training content to reflect lived experiences and practical insights.

·       Agree the Implementation of the SSCP package of training that is currently being developed aimed at neurodiversity awareness for all our partners when working with children, young people and families with regards to safeguarding.

·       Ensure that as in all SSCP learning opportunities, we ensure the package of training is rigorously reviewed and quality assured.